Looking for answers to life's questions

I’ve had limited vision since I was 4 years old when a bad case of measles along with a picture window framing the snow outside left me struggling to see what everyone else took for granted. There is a gift in that. There is no sunrise, sunset, bloom or cloud that fails to leave me breathless for a moment.

Clear view through clean windows

Seeing things clearly is on the top of my list. I’ve had new glasses made, had the cataract removed, and recently, had my windows professionally cleaned. It was an extravagance that felt necessary. I love to be looking out my windows. I can see the sunrise from the chair I write in, the sunset and the moon on its journey from my bedroom, the coming and goings of the neighborhood from front windows and my lush fern covered hill from my kitchen window.

It looks very different through a dirty window

To tell the truth though, I’m used to seeing things a little fuzzy so it’s normally no big deal until I took photos of things at my windows. Not a pretty sight before the cleaning. My attempts at it left them not much better. I wanted to show off a couple of wonderful things so in came the cleaning man with his miracle cleaner. Now I can show you the lovely danglers that the very talented Pauline King at the Contented Crafter made for me.

Too beautiful for words

This is the larger purple dangler that hangs in my sewing room to inspire me. So much prettier with clean windows.

Each one is personalized for the individual she makes it for. I have Angels, butterflies, books, and things related to sewing on mine. One hangs in my sewing room window as it gets the first light of the day and when the sun hits, the crystal sends rainbows all through the room and down the halls.

Dancing rainbows everywhere.

Rainbows on the walls

The other hangs in my bedroom so I see it first thing in the morning and last thing at night reminding me that there are wonderful, creative and caring people in the world.

Blues and greens are the colors in my bedroom.

I also wanted to show you the shelves and lace curtains I made for some of my windows. I wanted lace to have a tiny bit of privacy but still allow in the light. I can see out better than anyone can see in through them.

My inner hoarder was brought to light when I made the curtains. Living room and my bedroom are panels that I had from the house we owned in the early 90’s. I saved them and found they worked quite nicely with some cutting and hemming.

Recycled curtains saved me time and money.

The curtains in the den, dining room and kitchen were made from one of 2 bolts of lace I had left over from making curtains for the last house I lived in. I bought the lace at Walmart so inexpensively that I just couldn’t give it away knowing I might make use of it someday. Well, it’s someday. I still have another bolt left and now I can increase the fullness of the curtains or make valances. Nothing goes to waste here but I do hoard a bit. I looked in stores for lace curtains and they are a thing of the past, as am I.

Next to my chair in the den

Back door window

Living room curtains

Kitchen window

Dining room next to china cabinet

Side view of bolt

One bolt left

Clear Vision isn’t only a matter of the eyesight, it’s also a matter of the heart and mind. Trying to get clear focus on your heart’s desire or your direction is a job from the inside out. Not so easy to hire help for this but it can be done. My tools for that are meditation and writing. A good friend, family member or coach willing to speak the truth you need to hear also helps.

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. ~ Helen Keller
How clear has your vision been lately? What tools do you use to get clear?

Comments on: "Clear Sight" (55)

Goodness, the inside of your home is looking very pretty and clean Marlene 🙂 I know how much work has gone into making it so, you have done such a wonderful job!! It is a home worth seeing clearly! I really like your lacy curtains. The place looks like a lovely cottage, all light and bright and welcoming and comfy! And what a difference clean windows make – I must do mine 🙂 I am thrilled to see the danglers up and doing such a good job of sending you sparkles, comets and rainbows – though the one in your bedroom is a pretty poor excuse for a dangler. I shall do something about that! Thank you for the lovely reflection on my light catchers, it makes me so happy that they are in so many places around the world, catching the light at different times and sending out their messages of hope and transformation. xoxo

The cottage look is what I’m going for. I love the light and lacy feel. So glad I held onto those bolts and old curtains. I had my mother’s windows professionally done as she had so many that I could not reach. They stayed clean for 2 years! It’s the magic solution they use. I’ve done my own and they are never as lovely as when the professionals do it. I am very happy with the dangler in my room. I was looking at the full moon this morning at 3 a.m. from my bed and see the dangler in the light of it. More than anything, I want my home to be welcoming and cozy. Giant hugs to you and thank you for all your kindness. It’s deeply appreciated.

What a thought-provoking post–I’ll be thinking about my vision and my ability to see all day now! You did a great job with the curtains–I love how they let light in and make it dance, just like the danglers do. I have one of Pauline’s danglers, too, and love coming into the room and seeing the rainbow sparkles.

The danglers light up my days as well. Pauline is so very talented. My windows are not the best quality and somewhat pitted but a good cleaning did the trick. Clear vision does have deeper meaning and wanted a fun way to write about it. Thanks for stopping by.

I love your ‘living in a room from of rainbows’. My mother had a huge picture window in her living room when my children were growing up…in that window she hung crystals of every size and shape. My son LOVES to lay in the sunshine among the rainbows. Thank you for the memory.

You are so welcome, Linda. I’ve been away a few days and just now trying to catch up again. It’s wonderful your children had those kinds of lovely experiences of their grandmother’s home. These are a first for me as I’m building my life in my home. The rest of the windows are covered by porches so they don’t get the good light. See you soon. 🙂

I laughed when I read your proud pronouncement of the clean window/s. I feel the same way when I clean mine.( Mostly because I put it off depending on the season e.g. – too hot, cold or wet to wash them). However, you have to admit – a dirty window forces one’s eyes to appreciate what is hanging in front of, over, or behind it.
Love, love and love that bead and crystal hanger!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I’ve tried cleaning my own windows. They never are as clean as the professional gets them nor do they stay clean as long. I promised myself once I finished painting the house, I would have them done. 🙂 Pauline calls them danglers. Another blogging friend and a true artist in her own way. Also a wise and dear heart. They come from New Zealand. I’m so proud to have them.

We saw lace curtains everywhere when we traveled in Europe. I saved all the ones from my mother’s house when she died and will use them when I have a house again. (We are living full time in our motorhome right now.) Maybe they are old fashioned, but oh so lovely. It looks as though you have created a very pleasant space for yourself!

Thank you so much, Dinata. Yes, it’s all the lace in Europe that inspired me to do it in my home. I love the look. This is MY first home of my own and I’m determined to make it reflect my personality, whatever that is. I loved traveling in a motorhome. They just don’t have enough room for all my books and fabric. So I am finally putting down roots. Maybe later I’ll wander a bit more. Thanks for stopping by.

Since I just had my windows replaced I must say you are right….having clean windows is something I won’t take for granted again. I will try and keep them clean. 😉
I love the look of your house, Marlene! Can you come and help me achieve that? My house looks like crap. LOL Seriously, I love your house.
I love the beads too, anything that can make rainbows has got to be awesome! ❤

Thanks so much, Jackie. The window cleaner said these were cheap thin windows so that was the best he could do. I’m happy with them for now. Until I win the lottery. 🙂 The danglers were made by a fellow blogger in New Zealand. A wonderful artist and another good friend. Wish I could do house calls. I love fixing things from nothing. It’s an innate need to keep making things pretty. Now if it would only work on me. 🙂 Giant hugs.

You are hardly a thing of the past! You are always moving forward in all that you accomplish.
It truly is incredible to have clean windows. I marvel over how much better everything looks inside, and the lace just adds to the light.
I especially love the dangler. I’m so pleased when I am home to see the colorful lights dotting my kitchen, thanks to Pauline.

Pauline does incredible work. I have her work all over the house. Those dots of rainbows lighten my day. Forward is the only way to go. I’m not a person who lives in the past but I do still like some things that are a bit dated. Like lace. 🙂 Very girly. Thanks for stopping by and brightening my day. 🙂

Hey Marlene, the curtains look great! You’ve done a marvelous job making your new place into a welcoming home!
Clear vision can be applied to many situations in life! Including windows! Mine need some cleaning too! As for a vision on life, mine is falling into place slowly, but surely…
Have a relaxing Sunday! 😊

Love this post, Marlene! Your clean windows, the danglers and your curtains look wonderful. And you are so right ~ trying to get clear focus on your heart’s desire is not easy, but so important. I love the Helen Keller quote!

Thanks, Carol. I loved the quote too. She is my inspiration when the lack of vision gets too me. I am so happy with the clean windows and was waiting till I finished painting the house. Now it’s all so pretty and feels so happy. 🙂

I’m back to read through a second time, as reading this on my phone did not do it justice. I wanted to zoom in on the curtain details and Pauline’s marvelous danglers. I love that they are reflecting light all over the world.

I’ve always loved the idea of a cottage and tried to achieve that in my ho-hum apartments years ago. I too like lace curtains. They’re delicate but sturdy, and they allow both light and privacy. They feminize a room like nothing else, I think, and are especially nice when you want a light and airy room.

Your shelves are both pretty and practical. I like the piece on the ends (I know there is a better name for that but I can’t think of it now). It gives you a lot of places to display your treasures, without requiring additional furniture. Everything looks wonderful, Marlene.

I smiled when I saw your floor to ceiling book shelf next to your bed and the wonderful print about falling in to books. You’ve made yourself a cozy reading spot. I’m happy for you.

There are some wonderful views out your windows. My gosh is that a small forest in the near distance? It’s stunning. I bet it smells wonderful, too, especially after the rain.

As for getting a clear vision, this week I’m just getting through. Slinky passed Monday and C. left for college today. It’s been an emotional week. I do like meditating and I also agree that talking things through with a trusted friend can work wonders. I’m so glad you’re still searching. I think we’re always searching in some ways. It’s part of what keeps us curious and alive.

You would be proud of me. I gave 2 boxes of books, some new, to the Friends of the Library this week. The proceeds help the Library buy new books. That is a small forest behind me. :)))) And one across the street behind them too. The things on the end of the shelves are corbels. I painted them and the shelves to vanish so only my treasures show up. I’m afraid that they will have to dig me out from under my books when I leave this world. I would wish that telling you Slinky is a happy kitty once again would make you feel better but I know it won’t. I know for certain that dogs and cats have souls too and travel through life with us when they are so deeply loved. I think I have a unique attitude about life’s transitions that makes it easier for me to let go of loved ones. They are just out of my field of vision, never out of the field of my heart. Yes, I am always going to be searching. It’s what makes the universe expand. Just doing my part. 🙂 Hugs and hang in there. It gets better.

You got it! I did paint them to disappear into the walls. 🙂 And the shelves. I once had shelves stained oak and they felt heavy over my head. I don’t notice these. Perfect. Feng Shui always says that things have to move out for good to move in and everything is energy so it must keep flowing. I pass on as much as possible and avoid hoarding as it blocks the flow of life force. It’s explained differently in quantum physics but says the same thing. Keep it moving. The books I keep here are to be lent out like a library. Most of the time they make it back. If not, oh well. Room for another one. Now that I know how to get to the friends of the library, I’ll be making more trips. The parking was the problem since I drive a sled. 🙂 I found a lot close by. 🙂

I celebrate your positive attitude. I’ve always loved reading and liked the idea of a home library. Now that I’m older, though, I’ve realized it makes no sense to keep books I’m not going to read again (there are always too many good ones in the queue). Now the shelves house reference books for gardening, organizing, cooking, etc. and then of course some favorites, including a book my mom gave me when I was ten: stories by Pearl S. Buck. You’re right about it blocking the flow. I’ve seen it play out time and again with clients.

I don’t keep many novels either. I have most of them on the tablet. My books are crafting, quilting, writing, and spiritual information. Chicken soup books for inspiration and book in line to be read. Went through the quilt and craft books to decide what I probably will never get to and passed them on. I have lots on gardening too. Cookbooks, you can count on one hand. You can see where my priorities are. :))) Slowly, I’ll keep moving stuff out. Now, if I can keep people from giving me stuff. :))) Some days it’s a sled, others a boat. Sometimes I call it the beast but it works very hard and I feed it well. 🙂 Hugs. 🙂

How pretty is your interior home Marlene.. loved what Pauline made in that beautiful beaded light catcher.. And I am probably the only one on our cul-de-sac to still have net curtains to my windows, Nearly all now have vertical blinds..
But I love to see out and still have that bit of privacy the net curtain gives you.. And like you have several crystals that cast gorgeous rainbows on the wall..

We take our eye sight for granted until it starts failing that is for sure.. My Dad’s mother Grandma had bad eyesight and lost nearly all her sight in the last years of her life.. She would always be telling us to appreciate what we saw..

My daughter had to wear glasses too from the age of 5 a condition of astigmatism. So eyesight has always been important in the family..

Your windows look revitalised and happy with their new shine. 🙂 And it is wonderful you have recycled the material for your curtains..

Thanks for stopping by, Sue. I don’t care much for vertical blinds myself. had some in the last house and apartment. I have what’s called a honey-coned duet that can come down from the top or up from the bottom. They can even be positioned half way between. I can place them where I want them for large or small amounts of privacy. Most of the time they are up for light and the lace gives that little bit of privacy. We are very close to each other here. Right now, I’m grateful to have any eyesight. There was a time when they didn’t think that was a possibility. I am also grateful for technology. I have acute astigmatism too. 🙂 I can see my keyboard, my kids, the road most of the time and now sometimes my sewing. I’m a happy girl. 🙂 Love and hugs. M

I am happy you can see most things and your beloved sew at times too.. I now wear glasses all of the time, yet only used to wear for reading.. Too many years in factory conditions concentrating on stitches made my eyes worsen.. Now without them everything is fuzzy and I can not read print at all.. Thank goodness for opticians :-)..
Stay HAPPY Marlene.. Love to you and Love your curtains 🙂

My windows could sure use a good cleaning, too! However, like you said, sometimes seeing isn’t about whether or not our windows are clean. I appreciate how you “see through” to see what is “real.” Thanks for sharing your thoughts and lovely pictures of dangles hanging from your clean windows!

Thanks for stopping by, Missy. I’ve tried cleaning my own windows. I don’t do the job the professional does. Maybe because I can’t see what I’m doing. 😉 Vision does apply to more than the eyes. Something I’m always working on.

I absolutely love your lace curtains. I also save, cut, hem, and repurpose my old lace curtains. I have a fair amount of lace in my house. I love open windows with light and airy curtains. When they flutter in the breeze and I can see out more than they can see in it makes me happy. My windows are not as clean as yours… I never considered hiring somebody to wash them but… I had no idea that your eyesight was a lifelong issue. Perhaps this is one of the reasons you see others through your heart as well as your eyes and it shows in your words. ♡ I don’t know how I keep missing your post. Somehow I am not getting a notification but I like to check from time to time to make sure that I’m staying current with my favorite bloggers. Need to make some corrections on my notifications, I guess. Your house looks lovely. I immediately recognized Pauline’s danglers. Perfectly pretty and what a lovely accent to your home.

I haven’t been able to see or hear well since I was very small. Some nerve damage. So nothing is taken for granted. I love lace in my home. I have the cheap stuff but it doesn’t matter. It was only $125 and I won’t need it done for at least 2 years. Worth every penny. There are some windows I couldn’t get to safely. I haven’t been posting often so you aren’t missing anything. 🙂 Pauline’s art is beautiful anywhere. I cherish every piece of it. Thank you for your kind words. Glad to see you too. Hugs.

Much of my lace/curtains I got at yard sales or thrift stores or a bargin/clearance bin! I move things around and get my $$ worth. I struggle to keep my blog current and noticed many of my followers have abandoned their blogs. Going to try to hang in there. Hugs back at you!

Not a day has gone by this summer that I didn’t think of you and your eyesight wondering if you were seeing better because there was just so much beauty to see. I do hope your eyes are better.

Pauline did a wonderful job on your light catchers, and while the big one in your sewing room is gorgeous I so love the one in your bedroom with “my” colors in it. 🙂

I love seeing lace curtains in other people’s homes – yours are lovely btw- but they have never felt right in my home. That said I would gladly move right into your bedroom filled with the light, books and an airiness you have brought to it.

Thanks, Lois. It feels so cozy in here now. A bit chili but very cozy. It’s not everyone’s taste but I love it. The green and blue are perfect in my bedroom. The purple inspires more creativity. As for the eyes, I can still see and am grateful. Any vision is better than none.

Are you having autumn cool weather already? We are just now moving into Autumn, our first really cold night is expected tomorrow with a low of 44. So far I’ve been able to keep a window cracked and not get cold, guess that’s over now.

I can see, just not better. It will do. Yes, we have had autumn for awhile now with a hot day thrown in the middle to keep everything confused. Our lows are not quite there. 47-50. That will change in the next week.

I’m sorry, I thought the surgery would have fixed your problem. You are so creative that I’d love to hear your eyes cooperated and allowed you to do the fine work you enjoy.

Strange weather, it’s still warm today, we haven’t had any nights as cool as that yet, tomorrow it arrives. I finally closed the last window today but keep the storm door screens open so if we have nice days I can still let the fresh air in.

Hello sweet cheeks, I read your post at the beginning of the week then went on a mad roller coaster. I saw your royal cuteness in my FB news feed and gasped, “phooey, I never got back to comment” !!! So now, this beautiful Sunday morning I’ve popped back to say hello. ❤ I love Sunday. It's quiet and we sleep in and linger with the coffee. Not you though, you're probably fixing, diy making, sewing, reading, painting and such at the crack of 10…oh crap, make that 10:40am. See!! My days half done and I've not crossed a thing of my list, Gah!

No worries, you are top of my list and I can see you're making your little nest just perfect.

Chirp chirp tweet,
those lace curtains are so sweet

This aqua bird is smiling at the shelving too. everything's so crisp and light filled. It's all magical when you add Paulines handiwork. Aren't they so pretty? Hey? Is that a Mary Englebreit art in your bedroom. I have coveted my magezines of her's forever and was so sad to see them end. I used to melt over all the photo's of inside her home. Her and I love the same things. Well off I go, another 1/2 day to make hay, LOL Jim was away this weekend and I've actually got lot's me time. I love me time, that's how I roll….this has been a lovely start to my day Marlenie-bean, toodles ❤ ❤ ❤ b/p/k

I would like to sleep in one day. Made it till 6:30 once. Finished my quilt squares today. They take me longer because I have to rip out and try again too often. Now I’m working on a pillowcase for a little friend. He will be 2 next week. I should be out there digging holes to move the rose bushes but the sun was in my eyes. As good an excuse as I could find to sit at the computer for a few more minutes. Now I have to go try again. 😦 Yes, that was Mary E. Love her almost as much as Maxine these days. Different parts of my personality. 🙂 Glad you are enjoying your alone time. I covet mine. Need LOTS! Have a wonderful Sunday. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs, M

Ah! What beauty my friend!! (And now I have to wash my windows!!! 🙂 ) I just LOVE the crystals…I am a giant crystal girl…love the bling…incredible prismatic light speaks to my soul!! Awesome curtains you made too! (I’m not breaking out the sewing machine any time soon!!…I volunteer for our local theatre and they sent out an email looking for someone to sew…I just deleted that email 🙂 ❤ ❤

You crack me up. ;)) The crystals are from a New Zealand blogger and artist. I don’t volunteer to sew either. I’ll do it for a charity or myself out of necessity. Always out of necessity. I’m still catching up too. God bless winter so we all can get caught up. 🙂

Thank you for stopping by and for the compliments. I love my cozy little place. My danglers were made by a wonderful blogger and artist in New Zealand. Such a talented, kind person. Have a wonderfilled week.

It’s a mystery why lace curtains aren’t more popular. They are perfect for letting in light but still blocking the view. I recently purchased “sheer” curtains for my place, and I don’t recall lace being an option on the online site. I bought these for nothing ($4 for each panel) because they were too long for anyone else. Luckily, I have a sewing machine and I know how to use it!!

Clear sight. Yes, well, it’s something I struggle with. I am so grateful to have had pretty good eyesight all my life. I’ve needed glasses for driving, but whip them off the first chance I get, and I still see well enough to get around. Until about a year ago, I could put a book right in front of my face and see it clear as day, but now I have to do that thing where you hold the words out farther, farther… until they come into focus. I refuse to go gracefully though, and though my optometrist regularly offers to hook me up with bifocals, I resist.

But what I really was talking about was clear sight, like the quote from Helen Keller. In relationships with others I have the worst time being able to see clearly. I was trained from an early age to do what I could to please and accommodate anyone around me, and as an adult I struggle to find a healthy balance between friendly compromise and standing up for myself. Remember the unwanted, yet adopted, cats from my father? They are gone! The clarity hit me out of nowhere. Well, more like it was after 5 months of non-stop irritation and catfights at 1am and feeling heartbroken that my beloved Racecar spent all her days hiding underneath the couch in her own home. And I thought, “Wait. What is it about being a daughter that says I have to have these cats in my care, just because my dad wanted me to have them and not someone else?” And the answer was “nothing.” I called my friend who has a farm in Clatskanie (who has been wanting the cats as mousers all summer) and in less than an hour I introduced them to their new home. The offer had been there, but I hadn’t taken him up on it because I thought I was supposed to keep the cats because that’s what my dad wanted.

And clarity has slowly dawned with work relationships and my romantic relationship. I don’t know why it takes so long sometimes, but I can take comfort in the fact that clarity does always arrive when I ask for it, eventually. And also, talking with my friend in Oregon City helps every time, too.

A lot of us are working on reprogramming ourselves. Still working on it. I’m proud of you for finding a good way to deal with the cats. I finally figured out guilt was a wasted emotion. We get guilted into things that we do not want. I know that’s not a word. I don’t compromise well anymore. Life is short and I’m looking for the joy only. If it feels good in my gut, ok. If not, find another plan. The most important relationship you can have is with yourself. If there is anxiety, look harder at what’s going on. I’m always here. Well, mostly now that the rain is coming. 🙂 I had a change in my vision on my 40th birthday. No lie! There are some things in life that are crystal clear and some that are clear as mud. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs.